Bottle-washing machine



April l5, 1930. H. KRAusE BOTTLE WASHING MACHINE Filed Ju15r '7, 192'? 6 Sheets-Sheet l April 15, 1930. H. KRAUSE BOTTLE WASHING MACHINE Filed July '7, 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet April 15, 1930. H. KRAUSE 1,754,755

BOTTLE WASHING MACHINE Filed July '7, 1927 E5v Sheets-Sheet 15 April 15, 1930. H, KRAUSE 1,754,755

BOTTLE WASHING MACHINE Filed July '7, 1927 6 Sheets-Shet 4 April 15, 1930. H. KRAU'SE 1,754,755

BOTTLE WASHING MACHINE Filed July '7, 1927 A 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 April v15, 1939. H KRAUSE 1,754,755

BOTTLE WASHNG MACHINE Filed July 7; 1927 6 Sheets--Slleel 6 www Patented Apr. 15, 1930 UNITED STATES i PATENT OFFICE HERMANN KRAUSE, OF MENOMONEE FALLS, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO STOUT MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF MENOMONEE FALLS, WISCONSIN BOTTLE-WASHING MACHINE Application led July 7,

This invention relates to bottle washingV machines.

Objects of this invention are to provide a bottle washing machine which is so constructed that it will thoroughly soak the bottles in a suitable solution, which willrepeatedly dip the bottles and maintain them in a submerged condition and thereafter allow them to drain so that the bottles pass 1o through this soaking solution and'will empty a large number of times, and to provide a machine which is so constructed that it will handle a large number of bottles simultaneously and keep a large number of bottles submerged at the same time.

Further objects of this invention are to provide a machine 4for receiving bottles and soaking and washing them, which is so constructed that jamming of the bottles cannot l Aoccur while they are being fed into the machine, but instead in which automatic means are provided for arresting the operation of the machine` in case one or more of the bottles is displaced. j

Further objects are to provide a swinging control guard for stopping the machine in the event that a bottle is misplaced, and to so construct this guard that it is free in its operation and is easily moved by a displaced 3o bottle without placing a crushing strain thereon, and which when so moved will instantly stop the machine.

Further objects are to provide a bottle washing machine in which a novel form of conveyor is provided and is equipped with polygonal pockets for the reception of bottles, so that all portions both of the interior and exterior of the bottles may be freely reached by the soaking solution.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine; Figure 2 lis an enlarged sectional view through the front end of the machine;

Figure 3 is a corresponding sectional view through the rear end of the machine;

Figure 4f is a rear elevation of the machine; Figure 5 is a side elevation of the front end of the machine taken from the opposite 5o side from that shown in Figure 1;

1927. Serial No. 204,074.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 6 6 of-Figure 5;

Figure is a view of the guard bar, such view corresponding approximately to a section on the line 7 7 of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the machine comprises a soaking' and bottle Washing compartment 1 which is preferably closed except for a front entrance aperture 2 (see Figure 6) and a rear discharge aperture 3 (see Figure 4C). Adjacent the front of the machine, a feeding drum 5 is mounted in proximity to the entrance aperture, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. This feeding drum comprises a plurality of compartments 6 each of which is adapted to receive a bottle, and such feeding drum rotates in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 2. This feeding drum is rigidly mounted upon a shaft 7 which is provided with a ratchet wheel 8 on its outer end operated by means of a pawl 9 carried by a rocking lever 10. The drum 5 rotates within a cylindrical shell 11 (see Figure 2) through which a plurality of nozzles 12 project. It isto be noted that the compartments 6 are arranged in rows and are adapted to receive a plurality of bottles at a time and to dischargea complete row into the compartment 1 through the entrance opening 2. The nozzles 12 are rinsing nozzles to initially wash the interiors of the bottles.

Itis to be noted also that the drum 5 stops in a position to slide a bottle from one of the compartments 6 directly through the aperture 2 into the compartment 1, as shown in Figure 2, so that such bottle may be received inthe bottle receiving casings or holders 13 carried by an endless conveyor 14. The conveyor 14 is driven by means of the sprocket Wheel 15. Preferably, a pair of sprocket wheels are provided, one on each side of the conveyor', and it is to be noted that the conveyor is formed by means of a plurality of links which carry transverse bars 16 located on opposite sides of the bottle holders 13, as shown in Figures 2 and 6 thus holding the bottle holders in rows.

The endless conveyor passes over the driving sprocket wheels 15 which are rigidly se ico cured to the shaft 17 and over guiding sprocket Wheels 18, 19, and 20. The compartment 1 contains a soaking solution, and it will be seen that the conveyor 14 has two stretches, one of which is located above the solution, and the other of which extends downwardly into the solution. The shaft 17 is given a step by step motion by means ot a ratchet wheel 21 (see Figure 1) rigid with such shaft and cooperatingr with a pawl 22 carried b y a rocking lever 23. The rocking lever 23 is -oined by means ot a link 24 with the rock- 1n lever 10, previously described, and it is to e noted that the rocking lever 10 is provided with a plurality of holes 25 into any one of which thev pin connecting the link 24 to such lever may be passed.

Further, it is to be noted that the lever 23 is provided with a projecting portion e uipped with a plurality of apertures 26 83a ted to receive the pin connecting a link 27 t ereto. In addition to this, it is to be noted that the lever 23 is pivoted to a rocking lever 28 which extends downwardly and rearwardly of the machine. It .is provided with arv pin 28 which may be passed through any one of a plurality of apertures formed in a driving wheel 30. This Wheel 30 and the pin 28 thus constitute a crank for rocking` the levers 23 and 10 through the mechanism described.

The wheel 30 is driven in any suitable manner. Preferably, it is rigidly secured to a shaft 31, as shown in Figure 1., and the shaft 31 is connected by means of the reduction ars 32. 33, 34, and 35, to a drive shaft 36.

he shaft 36, as may be seen trom Figure 6, is provided with a loosely mounted driving Wheel 37 which may be coupled by means ot' clutch mechanism 38 to the shaft. This clutch mechanism is controlled by means of the clutch lever 39. Preferably, this clutch lever is pivoted adjacent its lower end to a stationary bracket 40, and at its upper end is connected b y means of a link 41 to lever 42 mounted upon the control rock shaft 43. This rock shaft is provided with arms 44 and 45 (see Figures 5 and 6) and is also provided with a hand lever 46. The arm 44 is adapted to be engaged by means of a projecting downwardly extending arm 47 rigid with a swinging guard bar 48. This guard bar 48, as may be seen from Figures 1 and 6, extends transversely across the entrance aperture in pro):- imity to the conveyor and is swingingly carried by means ot a pair of links Thus, if any of the bottles are misplaced and projected from the conveyor, they will strike the bar 48 and duc to the links 49. will swing the bar laterally, thus rocking the lever 44 and through the medium ot the rock shaft 43, the lever 42, and the lever will operate the clutch and disconnect the driving pulley 30 from the shaft 36, thus arresting motion i of the conveyor and feeding means.

falso, it is to be noted that a similar swinging guard bar 50 is carried by means of a pair ot' links 51 adjacent the front of the feeding drum 5. From Figures 1 and 7, it will be seen that this guard bar is provided with an arm 52 which is adapted to engage the lever 45 and to thus open the clutch in a manner similar to that previously described whenever a bottle is misplaced and projects'from the teedin g drum. In addition to these controls, the machine may be stopped by manipulating the hand lever 46.

The discharge mechanism consists of a slidably mounted gate 53 carried adjacent the discharge aperture 3 of the casing or compartment 1. as shown most clearly in Figure 4. This gate is provided with a plurality of downwardly projecting fingers 54 which are normally positioned' in the path of travel of the bottles. However when the gate is slid laterally, the fingers are simultaneously moved laterally out of the path of travel of the bottles and the bottles are allowed to slide from their holders into the receiving trough 55 (see Figure The means for sliding the gate consists of lever 56 (see Figure 1)v carried by a vertical rock shaft 57. The lever 56, as may be seen from Figure 4, is provided with va pair of arms equipped with elongated slots' 58 which receive pins carried by the bar 53, thus sliding the bar and opening the vgate whenever the rock shaft 57 is moved in the appro'- priate direction. It is to be noted that the vert-ical rock shaft 57 is provided with a lever 59 equipped with a pair of arms and pivotally carrying a guide block 60 through rwhich the reciprocatory rod or link 27 slidably passes. This link is provided with stops 61 and 62 on opposite sides of the block 6() so that atthe eXtreme limits of motion of the rod 27 the block is engaged and, consequently, the shaft 57 is rocked first one way and then in the other, correspondingly operating the discharge gate.

The timing of the conveyors and feeding means and discharge gate is such that the bottles pass through the soaking solution a plurality of times before they are discharged. The timing may be similar to that set forth in my (3o-pending application. Serial No. 110.675, tiled May 21, 1926, for milk bottle washers.

lt is to be noted that by means of the c0nstruction outlined` the bottles are thoroughly soaked and washed by being initially washed in the feeding drum and by being soaked thoroughly in the soaking compartment 1.. It is to be noted that the bottle holders 13 are ot hexagonal or polygonal contour, as shown most clearly in Figures 4 and 6, so that all portions et the bottle ma)y be freely reached by the soaking solution.

In addition to the i'ueans for cleaning the bottles described in detail above. a plurality fio lili

of upwardly directed nozzles .63 and down Wardly directed nozzles 64 are provided for washing both the interior and exterior of the bottles after they rise from the soaking solution, as shown in Figure 2. A similar arrangement of nozzles, as indicated at 65 and 66, is provided adjacent the discharfre end of the compartment l, as shown in igure 3, and these nozzles may be employed to thoroughly rinse the bottles before they are discharged.

It will be seen that the construction of the machine is such that the conveyor carries a bottle around a large number of times through the various cleaning zones and through the soaking solution before it is finally discharged. It will be seen also that the slidably mounted gate need be moved only a limited distance, approximately half the spacing between bottles, in order to permit their ready discharge.

It is to be particularly noted that in this machine the guard bars adjacent the feeding drum and the entrance to the soaking compartment prevent breaking of the bottles by jamming them against adjacent portions of the casing. These bars are very easily deflected by a projecting bottle and when so deflected, will immediately stop the machine and prevent damage. y

It will be seen further that although the machine has the desirable characteristics enumerated above` that nevertheless it is of relative simple and of extremely reliable construction. i

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as illustrative rather than limiting as the invention may be variously embodied and as the scope of such invention is to be determined as claimed. i

I claim:

1. A bottle washing machine comprising a compartment housing bottle cleaning means and having an entrance opening, bottle advancing means located within said compartment and adapted to receive bottles through said entrance opening, a transversely mounted guard bar controlling; the operation of said bottle advancing means and mounted adjacent said advancing means, whereby said guard bar will be struck by a bottle displaced from said bottle advancing means, and a pair of links pivoted at one end to a stationary portion of the machine and pivoted at the other end to said bar, whereby lateral swinging of said bar is permitted.

2. A bottle Washing machine comprising a compartment housing bottle cleaning means, a conveyor located within said compartment for receiving bottles and advancing the bottles in a step by step manner, feeding means for delivering the bottles to said conveyor, means for intermittently operating said feeding means and said conveyor, and a have hereunto set my hand at Menomonee- Falls in the county of Waukesha and State of Wisconsin.

HERMANN KRAUSE. 

